Friday, August 7, 2009

Anyone who knows me, knows that I need God to speak clearly - with neon signs. It takes him a long time to get something through my head. Which, I suppose, is why I kept getting the same 'What God Wants You To Know' message on Facebook for two weeks.

It's getting to be back to school time again and once again I wonder if this is what I am supposed to be doing. God usually lets me know in no uncertain terms that the boys belong at home.

This year He sent:

A parent at the dentist office who lamented having to tolerate their own children and in the same breath said they would be happy to get back to the nearly 500 children they were responsible for as a public school administrator. For some reason this really bothered me. I guess because I can't wrap my mind around not wanting to be around my own kids. I like them. They're neat little people who are growing into great adults.

Two recent college grads (I gleaned this from their conversation) that spoke in very poor grammar, used adjectives like 'retarded' (I think that word is horrible), and said 'like' and 'ya know' a lot.

A child my son has grown up with called him weird. This child has never said anything like this before. This child was mannerly and polite and went out of his way to be kind to every child - until middle school. I'm only speaking for my local school system here - it's awful. We pulled the boys out for several violations of their rights under IDEA. It just was not worth the fight.

I have noticed this child seeking my oldest out to be mean to him more and more over the summer. Frankly, I like being weird, I like my son the way he is - challenges and all and take being called weird as a complement. The two college grads I encountered in the grocery store are supposed to be normal. I pass - thanks.

The good sign I got was a free ticket - Thanks to The Homeschool Lounge - to the Heart of the Matter Online conference. There I learned that I was not weird at all, that we are different to make a difference. I am revived, inspired and ready to go.

Let's do this thing boys. With God for us, who can be against us? Weirdos that we are. :)

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Spent much of this week at the . I'm sad that we only have one more day. The seminars are wonderful and the fellowship is fantastic.

I have no idea how I got a ticket. I suppose I won it. It just showed up in my email in what I call a God incidence. I have been truly blessed. I really needed the encouragement and the inspiration and there is just no way I can go the the NC conference. The timing, the finances, the distance - just can't do it. This I could do from my home.

Even if I hadn't won the ticket at 12.95 it was a great deal. You can still sign up and get the Mp3's of the seminars later. It is WELL worth it.

As a result of this I'm investigating Sonlight. I never had done that before because my kids are reluctant readers at bests. However, talking with Amy Bayliss, who uses it, and listening to Sarita Holzmann of Sonlight, my interest was sparked and I went looking with my 'just arrived in the mail Sonlight catalog'.

Most of the books are in my local library. Hmmmm... Another God incidence?

As good as the seminars have been it was Amy's that was the one I really needed to hear. I am not being a Godly parent lately and am letting way too much negativity invade my thoughts and come out of my mouth. I can't do this thing without God and I need to stop trying.